POS1591-HPR BREASTFEEDING IN WOMEN WITH AUTOIMMUNE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Authors: A. Carrazco Chapa, D. C. Rubio Torres, D. Ramos, S. M. Delgado Ayala, G. Sandoval, C. M. Skinner Taylor, L. Pérez Barbosa, J. A. Cardenas-de la Garza, D. Á. Galarza-Delgado
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and then starting complementary feeding while continuing breastfeeding until 2 years of age or older [1]. However, women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) face barriers of ignorance regarding medications that are compatible with breastfeeding and the control of their disease activity. It has been reported that some women did not follow through with their desire to breastfeed due to concerns about their ARDs medications, the baby's health, and low milk supply. Nowadays, international guidelines agree that most drugs used in rheumatology are compatible with breastfeeding [2]. <h3>Objectives</h3> To describe the frequency of breastfeeding in women with ARDs. <h3>Methods</h3> An observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. A survey on breastfeeding was carried out on patients with ARDs who had ever been pregnant, belonging to the Pregnancy and Reproductive Health Clinic for Rheumatic Diseases (CEER) of the University Hospital "Dr. José Eleuterio González", in Mexico. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 63 patients were included, with a mean age of 38.84 (±7.49). The diagnosis most frequently reported was rheumatoid arthritis with 35 (55.6%), followed by systemic lupus erythematosus with 9 (14.3%). Other diagnoses were antiphospholipid syndrome, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and undifferentiated connective tissue disease each one with 1 (1.6%) respectively, primary Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma and spondylarthritis each one with 2 (3.2%) respectively and others with 10 (15.9%). The urban area was the most common place of residence with 61 (96.8%), while only 2 (3.2%) patients habited in the rural area. College education was the most predominant education level with 33 (52.4%). The sociodemographic and breastfeeding characteristics are found in <b>Table 1.</b> 49 (77.8%) of the patients referred that they had breastfed their last child. Regarding the duration, 3 (6.1%) reported having continued to breastfeed for less than 1 month and 24 (49%) for less than 6 months, being the cessation of milk production being the main cause of abandonment with 10 (37.1%) in those who breastfed for less than 6 months. Of the 14 (22.2%) patients who did not offer to breastfeed, the most frequent reason they reported was low milk production with 4 (28.6%), followed by their illness with 3 (21.4%). The other reasons can be observed in <b>Figure 1</b>. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Most of the surveyed patients with ARDs provided breastfeeding, however, more than half of them discontinued it before 6 months, with cessation of milk production being the most frequent reason. <h3>References</h3> [1]World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding: WHO; 2021 [1 October 2022]. Available in: https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding#. [2]Ikram N, Eudy A, Clowse MEB. Breastfeeding in women with rheumatic diseases. Lupus Science &amp;amp; Medicine. 2021;8(1):e000491. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.